5 Top Tips for Making Your New Conservatory a Savvy Investment

With our garage conversion finally complete, I can’t tell you how delighted I am to have the extra space. The only slight downer for me is that my coveted new office has been commandeered by the children: it’s officially become a playroom. Dammit. Nonetheless, it’s an exciting addition to our home and it’s got me thinking. The dream is to move to our forever home within a couple of years, but if this is not possible, then I’m up for doing more renovations. We can’t feasibly extend as such, so I’m starting to look at things to consider when buying a new conservatory instead…

5 Things to Consider When Buying a New Conservatory

1. Planning

Conservatories don’t generally require planning permission as they’re considered permitted development – so long as you adhere to certain limits and conditions. Be sure to familiarise yourself with what’s allowed and whether your perfect conservatory is covered by or falls outside of the scope of these restrictions.

2. Accreditations

Once you’ve established that you’re legally able to proceed with the build you have in mind, the next most critical step is to ensure the firm you employ is accredited. Trust me when I say that any kind of work, no matter how conscientious the builders, is disruption enough – the last thing you want is the headache of problems created by an untrustworthy company.

3. Reviews

Next, it’s well worth checking places like Trust Pilot for good reviews of the company you’re considering hiring. As far as I’m concerned there’s nothing more valuable than social proof, although of course I would say that… Because it’s true!

4. Budget

Decide your budget before getting carried away with competing with your neighbours for the showiest conservatory – they come at a price! After all, you get what you pay for and the best of the best naturally comes at a premium. That said, a conservatory can add value to your home literally, as well as improving your quality of life whilst living in your property.

5. Visiting Showrooms

In order to help you finalise your preferred style of conservatory, it’s wise to visit a showroom. This will help you see what’s available within your budget and what will meet your specific requirements. You’ll want to consider what’s most important in terms of use; whether that be year-round maximum space, something more cosy, or a summer room not intended for use through the winter, it’s important keeping use in mind during the planning process.

If you’re in Essex like me, one of the best places to check out for conservatories in the Colchester area is SEH BAC as they tick the accreditation and review boxes I mention above. The rest is up to you!